Electrical connector assembly having improved locking elements

ABSTRACT

A board connector includes a first housing including a base and two sidewalls and defining a receiving space, a plurality of first terminals and a first metallic shell including a first main portion and two extending portions extending from the first main portion and fitting covering outsides of the sidewalls. Each extending portion defines a locking hole. A cable connector includes a second housing, a plurality of second terminals and a second metallic shell comprising a second main portion covering a top of the second insulating housing and a pair of locking arms extending from the second main portion in the lateral direction. Each sidewall is sandwiched between the locking arm and an outside of the second housing and each locking arm is retained in the locking hole during the cable connector is engaged with the board connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical connector assemblyincluding a board connector and a cable connector mating with eachother.

2. Description of Related Arts

US20180040977A1 discloses an electrical connector assembly including aboard connector and a cable connector mating with each other. The boardconnector includes an insulating housing and conductive terminalsretained in the housing, the housing includes a rear wall or base andtwo sidewalls extending forward from the base, commonly defining areceiving space opening forwards and upwards, the terminals are retainedin the base and protrude into the receiving cavity. Each sidewall isprovided with an elastic locking arm, which unitarily extends from thesidewall resulting in increasing the complexity of manufacture.

Therefore, an improved electrical connector assembly is desired toovercome the disadvantages of the prior arts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connectorassembly, a board connector and a cable connector with improved lockingelements.

In order to achieve above-mentioned object, an electrical connectorassembly comprises a board connector and a cable connector. The boardconnector comprises a first insulating housing comprising a base and twosidewalls extending forward from the base and defining a receiving spaceamong the base and the sidewalls; a plurality of first terminalsretained in the base and extending into the receiving space; and a firstmetallic shell comprising a first main portion and two extendingportions extending from the first main portion and fitting coveringoutsides of the sidewalls, each extending portion defining a lockinghole. The cable connector comprises a second insulating housing; aplurality of second terminals retained in the second insulating housingand arranged along a lateral direction, a second metallic shellcomprising a second main portion covering a top of the second insulatinghousing and a pair of locking arms extending from the second mainportion in the lateral direction. Each sidewall of the board connectoris sandwiched between the locking arm and an outside of the secondinsulating housing of the cable connector and each locking arm isretained in the locking hole during the cable connector is engaged withthe board connector.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description of thepresent embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector assemblyincluding a board connector and a cable connector mating with each otherin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the electrical connector assemblyin FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly,wherein the board connector and the cable connector disconnect from eachother of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the electrical connector assemblyin FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the board connector in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the board connector in FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the cable connector in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the cable connector in FIG. 7 ;and

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the electrical connector assemblytaken along line 8-8 in FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe thepreferred embodiment of the present invention in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 , an electrical connector assembly 1000includes a board end electrical connector or board connector 200 and acable end electrical connector or cable connector 200 mating with eachother. The two connectors are locking with each other by lockingelements formed by metallic shells which will depict thereinafter.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , the board connector 100 includes a firstinsulating housing 1, a plurality of first terminals 2 retained in thefirst housing 1 and a first metallic shell 3. The first housing 1includes a rear wall or a base 11 and two sidewalls 12 extending forwardfrom the base 11, and a receiving space 14 is commonly defined among thebase 11 and the sidewall 12, for receiving the mating connector, that isa connector-receiving space. The first terminals 2 are retained in thebase 11 and protrude into the receiving space 14. The first shell 3fitly covers the outsides of the two sidewalls 12 and defines a hole 33opening downward. The outsides of the sidewalls 12 are partially exposedupon the holes 33. Therefore, a locking hole is defined in the hole 33,an inner edge facing downwards is defined as a locking edge. The firstterminals 2 are of a blade shape.

The first shell 3 includes a first main portion 31 and two extendingportions 32 extending forwards from the first main portion 31, the firstmain portion covers a top face of base 11 and the extending portionscover top faces and the outsides of the sidewalls 12. The sidewall 12defined two retaining bumps 13 protruding laterally or outwards from theoutside thereof, and the extending portion 32 defines two openings 34which are locked or retained with the retaining bumps 34. The firstshell 3 is assembled to the first housing 1 from top face in an uprightdirection. The first shell 3 defines a pair of soldering portions 36extending from the lower edge thereof for being soldered with the PCB,which are located at opposite sides of the holes 33 in the front andrear direction. The soldering portions 36 are located under the openings34. A fitting portion 35 bending downward from the first main portion 31and behind the extending portion 32, are inserted and retained in thefirst housing 1. The fitting portions 35 are located at an inner side ofthe holes 33 viewed from the front and rear direction.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 , the cable connector 200 is connecting withcables 7 and includes a second insulating housing 4, a plurality ofsecond terminals 5 and a second metallic shell 6. The second shell 6includes a second main portion 62 and a pair of locking arms 61extending from opposite ends of the second main portion 62 along alateral direction of the cable connector. The locking arm 61 includeslinking portion 610 unitarily linking with lateral edge of the secondmain portion 62 and a locking portion 611 bending downward from thelinking portion 610. The locking portions 611 separates fromcorresponding lateral outside of the second housing 2 with a lockingspace therebetween, for locking with the locking holes of the boardconnector 100. The second housing 1 defines bumps 41 on the top facethereof, to engage with the openings 64 defined on the second shell 6.

The second shell 6 includes an embracing portion 63 bending from thesecond main portion 61 and located behind the locking arms 61, whichembraces a rear portion of the second housing 4. In this embodiment, theembracing portion 63 is substantially aligned with the second housing 4at rear edges.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating an engagement of the boardconnector 100 and the cable connector 200, the cable connector 200 isinserted and received in the receiving space 14 of the board connector100, especially the embracing 63 is received in the receiving space 14and located between the two sidewalls 12. Each sidewall 12 is sandwichedbetween the locking arm 61 and the outside of the outside of the secondhousing 6. Referring to FIG. 9 , the locking arms 61 are locked in theholes 33 and retained with the outsides of the sidewalls 12. Therefore,the first and second insulating housing is simplified and the feel ofthe connection and disconnection of the two connectors is increase.

However, the disclosure is illustrative only, changes may be made indetail, especially in matter of shape, size, and arrangement of partswithin the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrical connector assembly comprising: aboard connector comprising a first insulating housing comprising a baseand two sidewalls extending forward from the base and defining areceiving space among the base and the sidewalls; and a plurality offirst terminals retained in the base and extending into the receivingspace; and a first metallic shell comprising a first main portion andtwo extending portions extending from the first main portion and fittingcovering outsides of the sidewalls, each extending portion defining alocking hole; a cable connector adapted for mating with the boardconnector, the cable connector comprising: a second insulating housing;a plurality of second terminals retained in the second insulatinghousing and arranged along a lateral direction; a plurality of secondterminals retained in the second insulating housing; a second metallicshell comprising a second main portion covering a top of the secondinsulating housing and a pair of locking arms extending from the secondmain portion in the lateral direction, wherein each sidewall of theboard connector is sandwiched between the locking arm and an outside ofthe second insulating housing of the cable connector and each lockingarm is retained in the locking hole during the cable connector isengaged with the board connector.
 2. The electrical connector assemblyas claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking arm is engaged with anoutside of a part of the sidewall of the board connector exposed uponthe locking hole.
 3. The electrical connector assembly as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the locking hole opens downward.
 4. A board connectoradapted for mounting on a printed circuit board and mating with a cableconnector, comprising: a first housing comprising a base and a pair ofsidewalls extending forward from the base, and commonly defining aconnector-receiving space; and a plurality of first terminals arrangedin a lateral direction, and retained in the base and extending into theconnector-receiving space; wherein the board connector further comprisesa first shell at least fitly covering outsides of the sidewalls alongthe lateral direction, and the first shell defines a locking holeexposing upon an outside of each sidewall partially for match with alocking arm defined on the cable connector.
 5. The board connector asclaimed in claim 4, wherein each locking hole opens downward.
 6. Theboard connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first shell comprisesa first main portion covering a top of the base and a pair of extendingportions extending from the base and fitly covering tops of thesidewalls and the outsides of the sidewalls, the locking holes aredefined on the extending portions.
 7. The board connector as claimed inclaim 6, wherein the sidewalls defines two retaining bumps at theoutside thereof and retained with openings defined on the extendingportions.
 8. The board connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein theretaining bumps are located at opposite sides of the locking hole in afront and rear direction.
 9. The board connector as claimed in claim 6,wherein two soldering legs extend from each extending portion and thelocking hole is located between the two soldering legs in a front andrear direction.
 10. The board connector as claimed in claim 4, whereinthe first shell is assembled to the first housing from the top of thefirst housing.
 11. The board connector as claimed in claim 4, whereinthe first shell comprise a pair of fitting portions inserted into andretained in the first housing, the fitting portions separates from thelocking holes.
 12. A cable connector comprising: a second housing; aplurality of second terminals retained in the second housing arranged ina lateral direction; and a second shell fitly covering the secondhousing; wherein the second shell comprises a second main portioncovering a top of the second housing and a pair of locking armsextending from the second main portion along the lateral direction, eachlocking arm comprises a linking portion linking with the second mainportion and a locking portion bending from the linking portion, thelocking portion separates from an outside of the second housing to forma sandwiching space.
 13. The cable connector as claimed in claim 12,wherein the second shell comprises an embracing portion extending fromthe second shell and located behind the locking arms, the embracingportions fitly surrounding the second housing.
 14. The cable connectoras claimed in claim 12, wherein the second shell comprises an embracingportion extending from the second shell and located behind the lockingarms, the embracing portions fitly surrounding the second housing. 15.The cable connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the locking armdefines an inward protruding portion at a free end thereof.